क्लेश
English meaning: affliction; cause of suffering
Definition
The five fundamental afflictions that bind consciousness and produce karma and suffering. They are ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and clinging to life.
Example
“अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः।”
In English: “Ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and clinging-to-life are the afflictions.”
Another example: “अविद्यादयः पञ्च क्लेशाः चित्तं बध्नन्ति।”
Usage — When, Where & How
A Yoga-philosophical technical term for the five afflictions; central to the Yogasūtra's analysis of suffering. Domain of yoga and Buddhist-adjacent philosophy; usually plural (kleśāḥ).
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From √kliś ('to torment, afflict') + the suffix -a. Literally 'that which torments', hence an affliction or cause of suffering.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- पञ्चक्लेश
- क्लेशक्षय
- क्लेशमूल
- अविद्यादिक्लेश
Word Forms
m., a-stem; nom. क्लेशः, acc. क्लेशम्, instr. क्लेशेन, loc. क्लेशे; nom. pl. क्लेशाः
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“मन्दः कवियशः प्रार्थी गमिष्याम्युपहास्यताम्। प्रांशुलभ्ये फले लोभादुद्बाहुरिव वामनः।।”
/Mandah kaviyashah prarthhi gamishyamyupahasytam. Pramshu-labhe phale lobhadud-bahur iva vamanah./
“Feeble-minded yet aspiring to a poet's fame, I go to be ridiculed — like a dwarf reaching for high fruit.”
“रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः”
/Ramo vigrahavan dharmah sadhuh satya-parakramah/
“Rama is righteousness incarnate — virtuous and true in valour.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M